Intestinal Permeability

Our intestines are a very important part of our digestive system. They are often referred to as our GI (gastrointestinal) tract. During digestion, enzymes are secreted from the pancreas as the food moves from the stomach to the rest of the GI tract. 

Here the food is broken into micronutrients and macronutrients to be absorbed. The GI tract is made up of something called the GI barrier. This barrier is a selective gate that controls what is absorbed and what is not allowed to pass through. 

WHAT CANNOT PASS?

The things that the GI barrier doesn’t allow to be absorbed are

• undigested food
• toxins
• pathogens

Our gut is continuously working to defend itself from being exposed to food, microbes, and chemicals. If allowed entry into the bloodstream these substance can cause a cycle of inflammation. The constant exposure to foreign substance can cause the walls of our gut to become vulnerable. This can lead to many different problems, one which is referred to as leaky gut syndrome. 

WHAT CAN WE DO?

As always there is something we can do to help protect our gut and keep it in healthy shape. 

• Identify and eliminate negative food reactions.

This can be done by taking a food intolerance evaluation provided by most Naturopathic Physicians. Common negative foods are gluten, dairy, and soy. 

• Increase whole, unprocessed food

By increasing fruit and vegetables and decreasing sugar we can limit our processed food. Increasing foods that are naturally high in fiber also helps to have a healthy gut.

• Limit exposures to antibiotics

By increasing probiotics your body can help naturally fight off infections needing less antibiotics. Fermented foods naturally have high levels of healthy probiotics

• Reduce stress levels

Being able to balance mental and emotional stressors helps our body maintain health over all, the gut is no exception. Improving sleep helps the body to restore energy allowing for the GI tract to function better. 

WHAT CAN I TAKE?

Three supplement we recommend to take are. 

1. L-Glutamine

This helps to enhance the repair of the mucosal lining. 

2. Probiotics. 

Helps to maintain a healthy and balanced digestive tract by preventing “bad” bacteria from overgrowing. 

3. Digestive Enzymes

Helps to improve digestion by breaking down nutrients that can be absorbed. 

If you would like any recommendations as to which brands Dr. Afshar recommends joining our newsletter! 

RESOURCES

The above information was presented by LifeStyle Matrix Resource Center.

All information presented is for your educational purposes only. This is by no means given as medical advice. It is important to seek advice from your physician or other qualified health practitioner regarding any medical concerns you may have, prior to the implementation and use of diet, lifestyle change, supplements, or any other health related protocols.